Mechanism for effecting the lapping movement of the thread-guides of warp knitting machines



NOV. 20, 1934. K|N$ELLA ET AL 1,981,511

MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING THE LAPPING MOVEMENT OF THE THREAD GUIDES OF WARP KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 26, 1952 5 ShQetS-Shet l 47 -51 45 PI G l Elli ARV K/MSELLJ JOHN 6- PRJTT BERNIE! A flsnu INVENTORS Nov. 20, 1934- E. KINSELLA -r AL MECHANISM FOR EFFEC'I'ING THE LAPPING MOVEMENT OF 7 THE THREAD GUIDES OF WARP KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 26. l932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L'PIVIRP K/NSELLJ JOAM/ 6- P84 BER VIRI KEYS/11L INIEIVTgRS Patented Nov. 20, 1934.

U'Nireo s'r rEs 1,981,511 MECHANISM FOR memo rm: meme MOVEMENT OF THE THREAD-GUIDES WARP KNITTING MACHINES Edward Kinsella', John Gordon Pratt,

and

Bernard Kelsall, Spondon, near Derby, England. asslgnors to Celanes'e Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application October 26, 1932, Serial No. 639,631

In Great Britain November 3, 1931 8 Claims. (CI. 66-80) This invention relates to the production of textile fabrics, and more particularly to the production of knitted fabrics on warp knitting machines.

The present invention is concerned with the I movements of the thread guides on said machines lezmthwise of the needle bar for the purpose of.

lapping the warp threads over the needles. It is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby such lapping movements may be effected with greater smoothness and at an increased rate of operation, so rendering the machine capable of producing fabrics of better and more uniform quality.

According to the present-invention a lapping, mechanism for the thread guide series of a warp" knitting machine comprises a cam adapted to operate the guides by direct action substantially in the line of the guide series. As a result of this direct action of the cam, the number of forces applied to the machine frame is a minimum,'the magnitude of the forces also being reducedto a small amount. In fact, the major force acting on the machine frame is substantially equal to that actually required to move. the guides. At the same time couples arising from the transmission of forces to the machine frame out of the direct line of the guide series are made as small as possible, the magnitude of the couples equalling the product of the force required to move the guides and the distance between the lines of action of the forces. This distance can be made comparatively small.

A cam and cam follower arrangement which is substantially free-from back-lash and is par-. ticularly suitable for adoption in connection with the present invention is described in U. S. ap-

plication S. No. 639,634 filed Oct. 26, 1932, each follower lever being provided with twocam followers, acting on opposite sides of ajcam protruding from the peripheral surface .of a drum so that the two cam surfaces operate respective ly to effect the motions of the guides inopposite directions and substantially without backlash. The double or multiple cam is, by the .construction described above, enabled to act onthe camfollowers at points only slightly removed from the lines of the respective guide bars, so that vibration is reduced to a minimum, and with the dimunition of the applied force rendered possible by the adoption of a light but rigid con.-

struction of the guides and guide bars, and the use of the swinging suspension describedin U. S.

applications Nos." 639,632, 639,636 and 639,637 filed Oct. 26, 1932, very his speeds are possible without the transmission of injurious vibrational forces to the machine frame.

The follower rollers are preferably of the type described in U. S. application S. No. 639,634 re-' ferred to above, that is, they are arranged incontact with both sides of the projecting cam member so asto avoid all possibility ofv back lash. The cams may readily be made of large diameter, so being capable of performing the lapping movements for several knitting cycles at each revolution, though, of course, more complicated knitting cycles may require the full periphery of the cams to be used for a single cycle.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawbut it is to be understood that this descrip' tion is given by way of example only, and is in no respect limitative.

The drawings show the cam mechanism applied to a machine having-a rigid frame structureof .the type described in U. S. application- S. No. 639,635 filed Oct. 26, 1932 and having its needles,.guides, etc., and their operating mechanism disposed as in U. S. applications S. Nos. 639,632, 639,633 and 639,638 filed Oct. 26, 1932.

In the drawingsr Figure 1 is a plan view showing the interior of a cam-box for operating two guide bars;

Figure 2 is an end elevation partly in section of the mechanism of Figure 1, showing its disposition ona vertical member of the machine frame;

Figure 3 and v Figure 4 is a rear elevation of a section of the whole machine showing the general assembly. Referring to Figure 1, an end frame 10 of the machine shown in section at 11, carries a cambox casing 12 which is rigidly bolted thereto, so as to project'from one end of the machine (see Figure 4). In two extensions 15, 16 of the casing .12 are housed two pivots 17, 18, carrying levers 19, 20 of substantial construction.- The free ends of the levers 19, 20 are enlarged at 21, 22 and carry beneath them cam bowls 23, 24, 25, 26 which are shown in Figure 1 in dotted lines. carried in sliding justable by means of screws 29,30, in order the wear may readily be taken up. Y

The cam bowls 23, 24, 25, 26 are operated upon by two cams 33, 34 mountedupon a common shaft 35, the cam opposite faces 36, 37 cam bowh' 25, 26 act uponopposite is a development of the lapping cams bowls 23, 24 acting upon the.

of the-cam 33,gwhile the: 7 32 38, 11."

The cam .bo'wls 23,25 are blocks 27,128 which are ad- 39 of the cam 34. The follower levers 19, 20 act upon push rods 41, 42 being connected thereto by means of universal joints 43, 44, and the push rods are connected in turn by means of further universal joints 45, 46 to the ends 47, 48 of the guide bars which are to be operated. Connection of the guide bars to the universal joints 43, 44, is made by means of the nuts 49, 50 on the ends of the push rods 41, 42, by means of which the guide bars are disconected from the cam box when desired, e. g. for the purpose of threading up a warp.

Passages indicated at 51 are' shown in dotted lines along the length of the push rod 41 and its connections in thepassages being'provided forthe purpose of lubricating the universal joints 43, 44, 45, 46. In order that the casing 12 may be kept dust and oil tight, the push rods 41, 42 pass through the casing and the machine frame by openings 54, 55 which are sealed by means of 'fiexible dust and oil proof closures 56, 57.

The camshaft 35 is driven inside the casing 12 in Figure 1, and this drive is clearly shown in Figure 2. The drive is taken from the main cam shaft 61 of the machine by means of sprockets 62, 63 and a chain 64 which give a reduction in speed of 2 to 1. If the cam shaft 61 gives one knitting cycle per revolution, a revolution of the lapping cam-shaft 35 serves for two knitting cycles, one while the guides are moved in one direction over the needles, and the other in the reverse movement of the guides to their original position.

In Figure 2 is also shown a drive mechanism operating the warp feed mechanism described in U. S. application S. No. 639,639 filed Oct. 26, 1932, this drive being effected from the shaft 61 by means of chain 65 and sprocket 66. The chains 64 and 65 and the sprockets 62 and 66 are enclosed in chain cases 67, 68 which are constructed in one piece. the chain 64 fits closely to the cam-box casing 12 as shown at 70.

As illustrated in Figure 2, ball bearings 71 are provided for the substantial pivots 17, 18, carrying the follower arms 19, 20 to permit the arms to move freely, and a cover 72 is provided to fit over the cam-casing 12. The extensions 15,-

16 of the cam-box 12 are closed by separate covers 73 provided with screws 74 for the adjust! ment of the bearings of the pivots 18, 19. I

It will be observed from Figure 2 that the cam-box 12 is connected to the main end frame 10 of the machine by means of a bracket 111 bridging the gap between the upper extension 112 of the frame 10 carrying the shaft 78 and the lower front part 113 of the frame, so

imparting rigidity to the whole frame 10, and

providing a steady support for the cam-box.

The main cam-shaft 61, the sinker rocker shaft 76, presser rocker shaft 77 and guide rocker shaft 78 are also'shown in this figure, the needle rocker shaft 79 lying behind the dome of the chain casing 68 enclosing the chain In Figure 3 the profiles of the cams 33, 34 are illustrated in development. The cam profiles depend of course upon the pattern of the fabric to be produced and the cams shown in Figure 3 are designed for the production of a very simple pattern. 7 The threads of the back bar are lapped over the back of two needles and over thefront' of one, and knitted, and then lapped over the back of two needles and over the front The case 67 holding of one in the reverse direction, and knitted again, after which the cycle is repeated. The endwise motion of the guides (i. e. the motion over but not between the needles) is performed by the cam 33, wherein the section 181 effects the lapping of the threads beneath two needles, the extent of this lapping being indicated between the arrows at 182. During the period repre-, sented by the space 184 they are passed in front of one needle as indicated between the arrows at 185, the distance 185 being one-half of the distance 182. In the interval 186 the guides are passed between the needles to the back of the needles'again, and the threads are knitted. In the interval 187 the threads are passed across the backs of two needles as indicated by the space between the arrows at 188. In the interval 189 the threads are passed between the needles and in the interval 190 are lappedagain over one needle as indicated by the space between the arrows at 191. The guides are then passed between the needles to the back of the needles and are knitted, the cycle beingthen repeated.

The guides of the'front bar are controlled by the cam 34. In the interval 18,1 they move across the back of one needle as indicated between the arrows at 192, and in the interval 183 they are passed between the needles. At 184 they are lapped again in front of one needle, as indicated by t e space between the arrows 193 and in the interval 186 they are brought back between the needles. and are knitted. At 187 they are lapped in the reverse direction across the back of one needle as shown by the space between the arrows 194 and at 189 they are brought to the front of the needles preparatory to being lapped againacross the front of one needle in the interval 190 as indicated between the arrows 195. It will be seen that in each case the movements of the threadguides are symmetrical, the intervals 181, 183, 184 corresponding in reverse order and in reverse direction to the intervals 187, a

As is clearly shown in Figure'l, the points of 1120 contact of the cam followers 23, 24, 25, 26 with their cams 33, 34, are substantially in line with the guide bars, the push-rods 41, 42 providing for the very slight angularity of the connections rendered necessary by the fact that the guides swing from the front of the needles to the back in applying thread to the needles. Thus, the whole of the force required to impart the endwise motion to the guide bars is supplied directly by the cams. At the same time, the resultant force, which must be transmitted to the machine frame,'is applied through the earn shaft 35 and its connection through the cam box to the bracket 11 to the machine frame quite close to'the line of action of the force exerted by '135 the cams" In this way, not only is'the magnitude of the forces involved reduced to a minimum, but the couple resulting from the two non-aligned operating and resultant forces considerably reduced. Vibration due to the lengthwise application of forces to the machine frame is thus prevented from reaching a magnitude likely to affect the precision ofythe knitting operation.

Figure 4 shows a rear eleyation of a section of the machine fitted with the guide-operating cam mechanism described above. Two'frames 10, 10'- are shown, these frames being connected together at the base by means of a girder section 9 of X form ,so as to be stiffened against distortion and vibration. 0n the end frame 10 of the machine the cam box 12 is mounted, the extension 15 of the cam box being visible on the rearward side of the machine. Covers 72, '73 are also shown at the top of the cam box 12 and the chain casing 67, 68 described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 are indicated together with the facing 70 on the cam box 12 against which the chain casing 67 fits. The frame 10, 10 carry the, shafts 61, 76, 77, 78, 79, the shaft 76 on which the presser rocker arms are mounted lying behind the shaft 61 carrying the driving cams of the machine.

The guide bar 82 carrying the guides 120 is supported by means of flat springs 84 from a driver rocker bracket 85 and an intermediate bracket 160 on the shaft 78.

This form of suspension provides for very free motion of the guide bars over the needles, and reduces the force necessary for the operation, and so of itself is instrumental in preventing vibration-producing forces transmitted through the cam-box 12 from reaching undesirable magnitude.

The guide bar 82 is driven for the betweenneedle movement of the guides through the rocker bracket 85 and similar brackets, which occur at intervals along the length of the machine, by means of a rod 90 and a rocker arm 91 mounted on the shaft 79. The shaft 79 also carries rocker arms, one of which is shown in section at 32, for the needle bar 131 carrying the needles 121.

As described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the guide bar 82 is connected at its end 47 to the cam-box 12 by means of push rods, one of which is shown in this Figure at 41 together with the universal joint 45, which permits of.

lateral adjustment of the guide bar 82, and the connecting nut 49 by means of which the guide bar may be disconnected from the cam-box. In this Figure are also shown a balance rocker bracket 114.and an end balance weight 115 for the guide bar 82, the driving means being exactly the same as the driving means 90, 91, for

the guide bar itself.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Cam mechanism for the thread guide series of a warp knitting machine, said mechanism comprising a cam shaft substantially parallel to the line of the guide series, two cam followers connected to the guides, and a -circular cam member on said cam shaft having two cam surfaces adapted to propel said cam followers in opposite directions substantially in the line of the guide series,:and to efiect the reversal of motion substantially without back lash.

2. Cam mechanism for the thread guide series of a warp knitting machine, said mechanism comprising a cam shaft substantially parallel to the line of the guide series, a cam follower connected to the guides and a circular cam memher on said cam shaft having a cam surface adapted to propel said cam follower in a direction substantially in the lirie of the guide series, said cam follower being adjustable to ensur contact with the cam surface.

comprising a cam shaft substantially parallel to the line of the guide series, two cam followers connected to the guides, and a circular cam member on said cam shaft having two cam surfaces adaptedto propel said cam followers in opposite directions substantially in the line of the guide series, and to effect the reversal of motion substantially without back lash, said cam followers being adjustable to ensure simultaneous contact with their respective cam surfaces. a

4. Cam mechanism for the thread guide series of a warp knitting machine, said mechanism comprising a cam shaft substantially parallel to the line of the guide series, a. cam follower lever pivoted on an axis at right angles tosaid line, a cam follower carried on the free end of said lever, means for connecting the free end of said lever to the guides, and a circular cam member on said cam shaft having a cam surface adapted to propel said cam follower in a direction substantially in the line of the guide series.

5. Cam mechanism for the thread guide series of a warp knitting machine, said mechanism comprising a cam shaft substantially parallel to the line of the guide series, a circular member on said cam shaft having a cam surface adapted to propel said cam follower in a direction substantially in the line of the guide series, and connecting means between said cam follower and the guides adapted to permit movement of the guides at rightangles to the line of the guide series.

6. Cam mechanism for the thread guide series of a warp knitting machine, said mechanism comprising a cam shaft substantially parallel to the line of the guide series a circular member on said cam shaft having a cam surface adapted to propel said cam follower in a direction substantially in the line of the guide series, and detachable connecting means between said cam follower and the guides adapted to permit movement of the guides at right angles to the-line of the guide series. v

7. Cam mechanism for the thread guide series of a warp knitting machine, said mechanism comprising a cam shaft substantially parallel to the line of the guide series, a cam follower lever pivoted on an axis at right angles to said line, a cam follower mounted upon said lever, a circular cam member on said cam shaft having a cam surface adapted to propel said cam follower in a direction substantially in the line of the guide series, and connecting means between said cam follower and the guides adapted to permit movement of the guides at right angles to the line of the ,guideseries.

8. Cam mechanism for the thread guides of a warp knitting machine having a plurality of guide bars, said mechanism comprising a cam shaft substantially parallel to the guide bars, a cam follower attached to each of the guide bars, a circular cam member corresponding to each of said cam followers, each of said cam members being mounted on said cam shaft and having a cam surface adapted to propel its cam follower in a direction substantially parallel to the guide bars.

EDWARD KINSELLA.' JOHN GORDON PRATT. BERNARD KELSALL. 

